The Epicurean: The Classic 1893 Cookbook (Calla Editions) by Charles Ranhofer is a nearly 1200 page tome on the art of cooking. Ranhofer was a master chef who worked for decades at America's most celebrated restaurant of the Gilded Age.

Ranhofer was already famous when he was hired by the legendary Delmonico's of New York, and under his supervision, the restaurant's kitchen achieved even greater renown. In 1893 Ranhofer shared his professional secrets with the publication of The Epicurean. This splendid reproduction of the now-rare volume offers modern cooks and gastronomes a complete culinary encyclopedia, comprising more than 3,500 recipes. 

From appetizing soups, sauces, and garnishes to mouth-watering desserts, this collection provides a wealth of options for every course, including recipes for meats, seafood, and hot and cold side dishes as well as wine pairings. In addition to 92 ways to prepare eggs and 172 vegetable dishes, scores of menus offer suggestions for breakfasts, luncheons, dinners, buffets, suppers, and parties.  A detailed index directs readers to specific dishes and foods, and nearly 800 black-and-white illustrations depict methods of preparation, table settings, cuts of meat, carving methods, and other techniques.

Inspiration and practical instruction abound in this historic book, which is as suitable for at-home cooks wishing to add elegance and sophistication to their kitchen repertoire as it is for gourmets and professionals seeking a guide to world cuisine. Anyone with a taste for fine dining will find this this self-contained library a timeless guide to the pleasures of food and drink. Just as Mastering the Art of French Cooking is a must have in a cookbook lover's collection, this title is as well. 

Dover is providing two copies of this beautiful book to our members worldwide in our contest below as well as offering 25 percent off any of their cookery titles for the holidays using this link and entering the code WRBK which expires on 12/31/2017.  

The publisher is offering two copies of this book worldwide. One of the entry options is to answer the following question in the comments section of this blog post.

Which book from Dover's site would you like?

Please note that you must be logged into the Rafflecopter contest before posting or your entry won't be counted. For more information on this process, please see our step-by-step help post. Be sure to check your spam filters to receive our email notifications. Prizes can take up to 6 weeks to arrive from the publishers. If you are not already a Member, you can join at no cost. The contest ends at midnight on December 13th, 2017.